Running the Relay for Jesus

Take the baton and keep running!

During my school days, I participated in sports. One of the most exciting activities during the annual School Day was the relay race.  As most of you probably know, in a relay race, one runner begins on the track by running a quarter of the way and then hands the baton over to the next runner, who runs another quarter and hands it over to the third runner.  This pattern continues to the last runner. All the members of the team encourage the one running and applaud the next in line. Our physical education teacher told us to start running slowly as the runner before us came close with the baton, and once we received the stick, keep running at our full speed and not to look back.  Just keep looking forward and running. That will keep the steady speed up.

The faith journey is something like running the relay race. We need to take the baton and keep running at our best.  We need to keep looking forward. It's a gradual progression, and the entire team is there to support us.  We see something similar in the beginnings of the Church. The apostles were on fire, taking the baton from Jesus who was risen. They began spreading the Good News of Jesus and passing the baton on to new Christians. Nothing could stop them. They were convinced that God is a loving Father who never looks back, but always forward. We are called to obey Jesus; follow his path and finish the race with him.

Jesus handed the baton to His disciples.  From them it has been passed on to us. 

Have you and each member of your family accepted the baton and started running?   Has any of you started and looked back?   However, you answer these questions, Jesus invites you to accept the baton, pass it on to others, and keep running.